What began as a peaceful bachelor party canoe trip on the Minnesota River quickly turned into an unforgettable mission to save a life.
Mitch White and his crew had been paddling for a day and a night without seeing another soul when his nephew suddenly heard barking echoing from the riverbank.
Curious, they turned their canoes around — and spotted something strange: a massive, furry head barely visible above the mud.
“When we got to shore, we saw he was buried up to his neck in the thickest of mud,” White wrote in a Facebook post.
The head belonged to an elderly St. Bernard who had apparently wandered off and become completely stuck in the muck. Without hesitation, the group of friends sprang into action. Using canoe paddles as makeshift shovels, they began digging around the dog, trying to free him from the sludge.
Realizing they’d need more help, they called 911. While waiting for rescuers, the men did everything they could to comfort the trapped pup.
“We gave him water — he drank half a gallon — and shared some of our lunch meat and summer sausage,” White said.
About 20 minutes later, Captain Shaun Cox from the Carver Fire Department arrived on the scene. The sight of the dog, who they later learned was named Ed, made an instant impression.
“He looked exhausted,” Cox told The Dodo. “I felt pretty bad for him.”
There was some concern that Ed might react defensively out of fear or stress, but to everyone’s relief, he remained calm and trusting. With combined efforts, the team was able to pull the massive dog free and lift him into a truck bed, where he finally rested.
As it turns out, Ed had wandered away from home and had been missing for a day. His grateful owner was overjoyed to have him back, safe and sound.
“I was happy to see them reunited,” Cox said. “He looked a lot better the next day after getting a bath.”
Thanks to a quick-thinking bachelor party and a dedicated rescue crew, Ed’s misadventure had a happy ending — and the partygoers left with a story none of them would ever forget.
